Mariska Hargitay was front and center at NBCUniversal’s Emmy Kick-Off Luncheon, with everyone gathering around her for the traditional group photo. (You can watch the video below.)
The beloved Law & Order: SVU star now will hold the same position on the Emmy stage as the host of the 78th awards on September 14, airing live coast-to-coast on NBC and streaming on Peacock from the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live.
It will mark the first major hosting gig for the Emmy-winning actress who just got live stage experience with the interactive solo show Every Brilliant Thing in her Broadway debut.
NBC and the Television Academy considered talent both within and outside of NBCUniversal for the job. In the end, they went with an NBC icon as the network is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
It is the first time since the Angela Lansbury-hosted 1993 Emmys that the ceremony is not emceed by a comedian, comedy actor or a TV personality/reality host and the first time in 15 years that a woman has had the gig. Jane Lynch was the last one to do it in 2011.
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“Bringing important stories into the light has been the heartbeat of my career. It’s my great honor to host the 78th Emmy Awards — in the 100th birthday year of my beloved NBC — and celebrate this extraordinary community of storytellers,” Hargitay said. “Whether it’s an actor or a director, a costumer or a sound designer, we are all so privileged to take part in creating television that unites us. Regardless of how, where or when we watch, we are together in our laughter, our tears, our love of stories — and our delighted anticipation to see what happens next.”
For 27 seasons and counting, Hargitay has starred as Capt. Olivia Benson on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the longest-running primetime live-action drama in television history.
The role, a popular culture staple, has earned Hargitay an Emmy Award, with an additional eight nominations, and a Golden Globe. In addition to starring, Hargitay serves as an executive producer and director on the crime drama, which is returning for Season 28 this fall, crossing the 600-episode mark. And speaking with Deadline at the Emmy luncheon, she was pretty confident that the show can go to 30 seasons.
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Inspired by her role on SVU, Hargitay founded the nonprofit organization Joyful Heart Foundation to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse on their path to justice and healing.
In 2019, the Hargitay-produced film I Am Evidence went on to win the Emmy for Best Documentary. Most recently, she directed My Mom Jayne, a Cannes-premiering documentary exploring the life and legacy of her mother, Hollywood star Jayne Mansfield.
Nominations for the 78th Emmy Awards will be announced on Wednesday, July 8, streaming live at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT on Emmys.com.
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